Rod S Passman, MD is interviewed by Happitech CEO and Founder Yosef Safi Harb

Rod S Passman, MD is Director, Center for Arrhythmia Research and Jules J. Reingold Professor of Electrophysiology, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Preventative Medicine

An innovator for patients in Atrial Fibrillation, Dr. Passman is a highly regarded cardiac electrophysiologist and is an internationally recognized leader in cardiac monitoring and stroke prevention.

Dr. Passman pioneered the use of implantable cardiac monitors to search for atrial fibrillation in stroke patients, a strategy now part of standard practice around the world. His current research focuses on implantable and wearable heart monitors to guide the use of anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation.

In this wide-ranging interview Dr Passman describes some of the benefits for patients of the emergence of consumer-style devices for remote patient monitoring. Dr. Passman also calls for more small-scale research studies, in partnership with the manufacturers of these devices, to evidence their ability to improve patient outcomes and save healthcare costs to encourage reimbursement by Payers.

Professor Helmut Puererfellner, MD, FESC, FHRS is interviewed by Happitech CEO and Founder Yosef Safi Harb.

Professor Puererfellner is Head of the Department of Electrophysiology and Senior Consultant at Ordensklinikum Linz, Austria. The department is a well-known institution for the treatment of all kinds of arrhythmias accepting patients from Austria and abroad. Professor Puererfellner is heavily involved in European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) since 2011 including a duty as Scientific Program Chair for the Annual Congress and was elected to the Executive Board as Treasurer for 2018-2020, International Affairs Coordinator 2020-2022 and EHRA President Elect 2022-2024.

Professor Puererfellner has 123 items in PubMed (National Library of Medicine) as of January 2024.

A keen cyclist, singer and lover of music from The Beatles to Bach, Professor Puererfellner reflects on how, in his professional life, personalised data generated from remote patient monitoring, and implanted and wearable devices can empower patients and democratise medicine but also overwhelm physicians.

Professor Puerfellner describes several initiatives in which he and colleagues in the medical societies, MedTech and software development are working together to agree on standards and a common language to enable the presentation of the right data, from the right population of patients in the right place, at the right time to support clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes.

Mellanie True Hills is interviewed by Happitech CEO and Founder Yosef Safi Harb

Mellanie True Hills is a heart disease survivor, heart health expert, patient advocate, award-winning author, and founder and CEO of the non-profit American Foundation for Women's Health and StopAfib.org, the world's foremost atrial fibrillation patient advocacy organization.

In this episode, Mellanie (or as she dubs herself 'Grandma-gone-digital') brings her passionate patient perspective to the discussion about the benefits of digital technology in managing cardiovascular disease. Quoting from a 2021 survey conducted by StopAfib.org, 71% of respondents use digital devices of one sort or another to keep track of their health. Mellanie describes how the use of these devices contributes to a sense of control, peace-of-mind, and comfort in managing their condition and helps to inform consultations with their clinicians.